State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

gives just seconds we hand out the amendment representative board. Thank you Mr. And I'm gonna go ahead if you don't mind and ask someone from the secretary of state's office to go ahead and make her way that that'll be fine to do that. They go in bed go and identify themselves for the record. Go ahead and do it by yourself Leslie Bellamy on the director of elections for the secretary of state's office okay thank you for being here. I have a motion. As engrossed. Yeah we're we're we're gonna let him presented ma'am that first. Your motion own amendment representative. Yes. Okay the committee member committee members are looking at the member representative Boyd you're recognized to present your amendment thank you Mr chair I appreciate the opportunity to come back to this committee and and present this bill so after some input from the central Arkansas working group on election reform they they offered some opportunities for improvement and then also there were some concerns about the wording that I tried to address so I'm gonna quickly go through the things This amendment does so that we're all on the same page so number one it addresses concerns raised previously so if you gotta page five lines twenty and twenty one it It strikes through language which gave appearance of authorizing on leading online voting for overseas voters I want to assure everyone that was not my intent and I don't believe the bill actually did that but I want to be crystal clear that it does not do that that language was not needed so we just struck that language so that's the first thing it does. On page two it were making clear that the online voter register registration application may rather than shall serve the purposes listed there so what I envision is initially we're going to be able to do online register online with the application that's an extension of the DMV where the individual inputs his or her information rather than the government employee and then once we are comfortable with that that gives us the option to add that we can change address party affiliation et cetera so we went from shall to may and I think that alleviates many of the concerns that were were raised number two the bill is going to do some additional things so we re titled the bill. It is now the voter integrity and voter registration modernised modernisation active twenty twenty one or will be sending this amendment is adopted. Number three. It's going to create uniformity in our state by doing the following it assigned some duties to the secretary of state which then has some checks and balances with those duties number one identified deceased voters by comparing data to the social security death index and remembers the county clerk's job to to register people are not so this gives the Secretary of State some new duties but it doesn't take away from the job of the county clerks next it establishes an address verification process by the secretary state and then third in this is an important one it sets out that the state shall join what is called Eric now I didn't call it Eric in the bill because as we all know names change but what Eric stands for in means and what it what the intent is is electronic registration information center and we'll talk more about it but Eric there thirty plus thirty states plus DC that are members of Eric and the exchange voter data to look for. People who might be registered in and more than one state it also it's a it's an additional use of the social security death index to look for deceased voters and help make sure that we have clear and accurate voter rolls. Next allow view only access to voter registration records to County Board of election commissioners so it requires the secretary of state to provide that access and what that does is sometimes there are local politics sometimes election commissioners work very well with the County clerk's sometimes they don't in this way it's a check and balance to ensure that the election commissioners have access to data that they need to of course that is view only because not their job to change the data but they do need to be aware of that data. The more you still own amendment correct yes Sir okay continue I'm getting there this is the last thing that the amendment does it requires annual reports star General Assembly on but on voter registration records Our concerning the accuracy of voter registration records and then finally if there are rules adopted by the secretary of state to implement any of this it does follow the administrative procedures act so we just wanted to make that clear. Okay committee members you heard presentations representative board on the amendment to any questions representative Richmond you're recognized for a question on the amendment. Thank you chair. You talked about the thirty states that were members of Eric do you happen to know who they are. Yes yes Sir tell us to which states are actually part of that system yes Sir as of March twenty twenty Alabama Alaska Arizona Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Iowa Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nevada New Mexico Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Texas Utah Vermont Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia and Wisconsin and then the district of Columbia is also a member. Thank you thank you chair. Representative back you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr just a quick question you mentioned that there we're going to get a report as far as accuracy of the rolls or something to that effect that the Zach Hayward could you. Is is that report been developed are willing I think my question is is is will go down to the county level will it just be lots for a statewide report or do you know that I have would developed yet so we have not developed yet this is important check and balance that was brought to my attention yesterday evening but I promise you we are very open to input on how that with that report will look like and we would communicate that. I mean what the secretary of state's office answer that I don't want to commit for them but. This is the only have has the ability to run several different options we can write it county level we could probably even get down like you of making custom reports and get it down to a county and municipality level depending on what of. The will of the legislature would be to show which of how the data had been gone through port and while voters had been taken off the rolls so we could work closely with with the. You know the legislators to make sure that it shows the of what they want to see in that report. Follows follow the okay so the. Is there is it is in the oversight thing or is it just the reporting thing so in other words would would would you say you know looks like. This area is having more issues than another area our our ours it just locks on it we just report what I would think it might be a little bit of both the you know we're always very open and we and Arkansas will mark you can get a voter registration report from basically nothing so I think that we would be open you know to show and what's being done by which County how many people are being taken off the rolls and wine so I think it would be a bit of oversight in just reporting as well. Thank you. Representative Redeker you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair of representing void I'm looking at page two of three section J. one be established and implement a process for the verification of address information submitted by a person registering to vote or by a registered voter updating his or her address if that first part of the clause and I'm concerned about is that subject to review by legislative counsel when they start make identifying adopting these processes. Mister Whitaker represent Whitaker could you tell me exactly where you're if you're looking at again I want to I'd I want to make sure that we're on the same page with monuments known as section nine okay. In in its proposed because of fighting J. one B.. Establish and implement a process for the verification of address information. Okay. Okay so what the what the goal is there is to work with the DMV to to cross reference the addresses so I mean and I guess technically if they had rules that were governing that process those rules would have some oversight of the General Assembly but okay I'm I'm more concerned with some of the the other rules that might be written an online voter registration making sure that those have oversight okay follow up. Recognized. Up great it's just that you know that that language their concerns some of us when it says process for verification address information in the past and some other states there's been a process known as voter caging that's been used to purge people from the rolls by sending mass mailings out to every address in the thing And anybody doesn't return the postcard in time is purged from the rolls and we what we would want to see that here since we're stating that believes that every lawful voters should have a right to vote I think that when we're talking about establish and implement a process you have to rules that would have to be seen I mean. We do not want to House so much power in one of our agencies without the check that's why I wanted to make it crystal clear that when we do rule making that this body will come back and have the opportunity to see what that looks like I hope that addresses your concerns it does thank you very much. Okay committee members said no further questions on the amendment. What's the pleasure of the Committee. I have a motion represented love you I have a motion earlier did you. Motion to adopt representative love has motion adopt any discussion on the motion. Saying none the amendment has passed representative board you're recognized now to present your bill as amended. What. What we did all in favor say aye. All opposed say no not fall committee members. I thought I read your minds maybe. Thank you for correcting me so I representative board that you're ready to present your bill as adopted okay is amended thank you Mr chair and committee members again for allowing me the opportunity to to come back I believe that these at this amendment has made this a better bill and will be good for the citizens of the State of Arkansas I have already presented the bill I've presented the amendment with the changes and so at this point in time I don't think there's anything else to to present except for us to be here and be of a available for any additional questions that might arise. Committee members you via the presentation representative Boyd any questions. Say none. Representative border you ready to close hi I would appreciate someone give me a motion and do pass as amended amended and I sure do appreciate your time and ability to be here today but you representative board we do have a motion to pass by representative Ladyman any discussion on the motion. Hey none all in favor say aye. Call a pro se no. Credulous representative void your bill has passed as amended. Thank you Mr chairman committee. Thanks Tony agenda committee members as house bill fifteen twenty two representative ray. Thank you Mr chairman I've got curtain almond from the secretary of state's office here with me okay if you would just track the device you sell for the committee. Thank you Mr chair Kirk now men from secretary of state's office thank you Sir representative you right you're recognized for senate bill okay thank you members of the committee and thank you Mr chairman I'll be real brief and respectful of everyone's time this bill is the one that passed out of committee last Wednesday as we were as I was preparing to bring to the floor there were some concerns that some members had about the specific word misleading in addition to its it originally the bill said false and misleading amended on the floor Thursday to remove the words and misleading so hopefully that alleviates some of those concerns there was concern that that might be a little too that language might be a little bit too vague and so was happy to amend that and that's the only change in the bill so I'm not going to re explain the whole thing in less folks would like me to so with that would appreciate a good vote. Committee members you are the presentation representative ray of his bill any questions. Say none no one signed up to speak for against the bill which pleasure of the Committee. Have a do pass any discussion on the motion. Saying none all in favor say aye All opposed say no regulation separate you break your bill is passed thank you Committee. Next bill on the agenda Senate bill two ninety four representive Tosh you're recognized to present the bill. Thank you Mr also I'd like to recognize the. Rep director or secretary here to table with me would you don't face of the committee. A device. Thank you vice vice chair Sullivan very Secretary corrections thank you you may proceed. Committee members what this bill does is in the past. And matter of fact I ran the bill comes a couple sessions ago that when an officer retires from the community of corrections that day be awarded their service revolver there's also a bill also in statute that says that when a member of the department of corrections that is a commissioned officer obviously but when they retire that they also will be awarded their service revolver so at the time and when those bills were passed that was two separate entities two separate organizations now they're both under the with the transformation builder now both under the department of corrections also what's added to this bill it new language is is that when you have an officer with either one of those agencies if for some reason they have to take an early retirement due to an injury in the line of duty that the department would have the authority to award them their service revolver and with that mixture take any questions. Thank you any questions from committee members. C. N. nine. We'll have embraced signed up to speak for against anybody in the audience like to. Okay represent us you like to close your bill I'll close with the bill may share and I would make a motion for a do pass a motion to pass on table any discussion on the motion. Seeing none all in favor say aye. All opposed congradulations the Bill passed. Representative Tasha you run in the next two bills as well. Okay what would you like. Yes Sir would you like to go ahead do those will. Go head start whenever you're ready. Thank you Mr committee members these. The Senate bills were bills that representative Wooten was. Going to run this morning and he called me last night and without getting into a lot of that he's of just me shoes have developed and he couldn't be here today so uh. With the help of a. Cable hill. We're going to we're going to present these bills will start out with Senate bill one eighteen okay we'll just identify yourself for the record hello. May proceed. Yes Sir Kay Barnhill director of office personnel management transformation shared service. Pushchair committee members Senate bill one eighteen. This is a program that will provide an enriched curriculum in public service to. Foster interest in all aspects of state government What the benefits of this bill or who the benefit to who this bill benefits is the PO will be powerful recruiting tool for state government the program will expose undergraduates and graduate students to state government and public service and this will increase the recruitment of the talented workforce the graduates and undergraduate students who are interested in learning about a about or join the state government will benefit from this bill so I will let. Mr Barnhill this time if you would if you just speak to this bill for you helpful yes Sir what this bill does establish establishes a pool of two hundred extra help positions that could be administered by the Department transformation shared services and in that case we were hoping to recruit applicants who have completed at least one year of college or even a lot further along and they will in turn state government among the various state departments that applied to our office and we would sign in to the various departments this is an attempt that we're doing to try to recruit young graduates into state government I will pay them twelve dollars an hour to the eight week program that they would be participating in. Okay of right back I'm sorry hang on that's okay I'm just going to add and that the this there is no increase physical impact of this bill so I want to make sure the committee knew that okay. back you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair of the is this. Possibly going to interfere with any of the existing programs that we have right now no if the department already had an internship program they can they did they did not have to convert tires but they can't if they would like okay thank you. Any other questions from committee members. Will have anybody signed up to speak for against anybody in the audience liked a. Send non representative Tosh you close to your bill Mr I am close with the bill not make a motion for a do pass I have a motion to pass on table any discussion on the motion. Seeing none all in favor say aye. All opposed. Congratulations your pastor bill. Thank you Mr. You may perceive a Senate bill one nineteen. Per share also would like to have ms K. here to the table with me you need a part of the dental powers up again for the record yes let's do that again if you don't mind K. Barnhill director of office personnel management department transformation insured services. Bizchair committee members this bill claims up to statutory language to reflect the practical application prepped practical uses of believe in day to day operations mainly dealing with catastrophic leave so I'm bill that Mr Barney Otis time discusses bill. Yes Sir catastrophic leave program is a program that's been existing state government for approximately twenty years what this bill does is some clean up work this is the primary employee has a catastrophic illness or one of the family members has catastrophic illness they can apply for this lead that is donated by other state employees so there's really no fiscal impact with this bill what this is doing it's gonna allow we've had some problems in the past with children and mothers who wanted to take off for their children had catastrophic illness but they were not taxed pendants this will allow those mothers to do that or any family member to do that is to say it also create that were any entity government entity such as the journals of little bureaus print quite they can establish their own catastrophic leave bank program as well. Take any questions from committee members. Representative back you're recognized. Sorry. Thank you so you said that this the time would be donated by other. Yes Sir right now we have approximately million hours in the catastrophic leave bank where employees can actually donate their leads to this bank and other employees can access in case medical needs okay so there's my concern is is that there is a could ever be a shortage of. In in how would you decide who got what right and not at this time and the way we decide who gets what is we have a panel of doctors from disability determinations up to speak along with the head of the pharmacy board there on a committee that reviews each application to make sure it meets medical criteria thank you. And more questions from committee members. So we don't have anyone signed up to speak for against anyone in the audience like to speak for against. Seeing none representante you close your bill. Mr I am close with the bill and make a motion for a do pass okay I have a motion do pass on table any discussion on the motion saying none all in favor say aye All opposed. Thank you representantes you pass another bill. Thank you much faster. Committee the next item on today's agenda is House Bill fifteen ninety five representative Milligan. You're recognized to present your bill thank you Mr chair committee hi this bill fifty house bill fifty ninety five a representative Ladyman head the human senator Hammer was working on this bill he handed off to me and it's pretty straightforward what it does with voting machines not let them ever be hooked up to internet of. Secretary of state's office is good with this yes and that's what we get over forty percent immersion of a machines are good with the lesson Commission and last week I was in here in the Mr miss Frasier mail say come outside and said that she had made some calls and I was good with it also so it just you know and I don't I didn't research don't think reading problems this year in Arkansas but preventive maintenance looking ninety years eight ten twelve years from now mendapat to be at home you talk to you know until it was in there so but anyway pretty simple bill just does not allow that to happen about but I'll take any questions if you committee members you heard representative milling object to build any questions from committee members. Okay no one signed up to speak for against the bill. Representative Milligan you ready to close on your bill yes Sir I am closed where he is close with this bill represents Richmond we have a motion. I have a motion of do pass any discussion on the motion. None all in favor say aye All opposed say no congratulations represented million you've passed your bill thank you. Committee members were going to average without objections change in today's agenda house bill thirteen thirty seven we're going to pass over that today that any objections also will will move to House Bill sixteen fifty four representative Dotson. J. jim Dotson you're recognized to present your bill. Good morning Mister chair and members committee thank you House Bill sixteen fifty four is a really simple bill the changes one word in the. National model display act for Arkansas the in god we trust display act and if you look Page two line twelve it changes the words state to taxpayer. More happy to answer any questions. Okay thank you representative. We have a. Representative to make sure recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman I support what you're what you're doing here and looks like the intent here is to push this from state level down to the county and to the cities my question is is ramifications going the other way federal buildings are obviously taxpayer funded buildings and so what would this do for our our in house yeah we obviously have no jurisdiction over federal not because we don't restrictions like that okay. Representative makes saying no further questions from committee members and no one signed up to speak for against the bill representative Dr you closing the make a motion to pass Page adoptions close to have a motion of do pass any discussion on the motion saying none all in favor say aye All opposed say no congratulates representative dodging your bill is passed committee members that completes this morning's agenda I just a reminder that this afternoon bone adjourned but we will start hearing Constitutional amendments and will be wrapped. Back here room one fifty one so just for the remember this afternoon at two extremely critical as we start process on the constitutional amendment committee members.